“I would like to offer a sincere apology, a sincere apology for Volkswagen’s use of a software programme that served to defeat the regular emissions testing regime,” said the chief executive of Volkswagen USA. “These events are – and I fully agree on this – deeply troubling. I did not think that something like this was possible at the Volkswagen Group. We have broken the trust of our customers, dealerships, and employees, as well as the public and regulators.”

Michael Horn said he felt “personally deceived” over the scandal, saying that cheating was not a corporate decision, but something that “individuals did”. Questioned repeatedly what such individuals’ motives might have been, he said that was being investigated by the company.

Overnight he had given a written testimony to the panel – saying he had been told in the spring of 2014 that there was a possible emissions non-compliance that could be remedied. And that he was told company engineers would work to put it right.

The chief executive added during the session that he had no idea what a defeat device was or that Volkswagen used them.

Watch the full speech as head of VW USA appears before a sub-committee over allegations of emissions rigging http://t.co/qGcXXjQK6X